25 May 1823 A.D. The Presbyterian Titan,
Expositor, Theologian and “old school” Professor of Princeton Theological
Seminary, the Rev. Dr. Prof. Archibald Alexander, writes his aging, debilitated
and dying mother.
The
letter speaks for itself.
“Princeton, May
25, 1823
My Dear Mother
When I last saw you, it was very doubtful whether you
would ever rise again from the bed to which you were confined. Indeed,
considering your great age, it was not to be expected that you should entirely
recover your usual health. I was much
gratified to find that in the near prospect of eternity, your faith did not
fail but that you could look death in the face without dismay, and felt
willing, if it were the will of God, to depart from this world of sorrow and
disappointment. But it has pleased your
Heavenly Father to continue you a little longer in the world. I regret to learn that you have endured much
pain from a disease of your eyes, and that you have been less comfortable than
formerly. Bodily affliction, you must expect to endure as long as you can
continue in the world…While your Heavenly Father continues you in the
troublesome world, he will, I trust, enable you to be resigned and contented
and patient under the manifold afflictions which are incident to old age.
The great secret of true comfort lies in a single
word, TRUST. Cast your burdens on the
Lord, and he will sustain them. If your
evidences of being in the favour of God are obscured, if you are doubtful of
your acceptance with him, still go directly to him by faith; that is, trust in
his mercy and in Christ’s merits. Rely
simply on his word of promise. Be not
afraid to exercise confidence. There can
be no deception in depending entirely on the Word of God. It is not presumption to trust in him when he
has commanded us to do so. We dishonor
him by our fearfulness and want of confidence.
We thus call in question his faithfulness and his confidence. Whether your mind is comfortable or
distressed, flee for refuge to the outstretched wings of his protection and
mercy. There is all fullness in him;
there is all willingness to bestow what we need. He says, “My grace is sufficient for
thee. My strength is made perfect in
weakness. As the day is so shall thy
strength be. I will never leave thee nor
forsake thee. Though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil; for thou are with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me.” Be not afraid of the pangs of
death. Be not afraid that your Redeemer
will then be afar off. Grace to die comfortable is not commonly given until the
trial comes. Listen not to the tempter, when he endeavors to shake your faith,
and destroy your comfort. Resist him, and he will flee from you…My sincere
prayer is, that your sun may set in serenity; that your remaining days, by the
blessing of God’s providence and grace, may be rendered tolerable and even
comfortable.
It is not probable that we shall ever meet again in
this world; and yet, as you have already seen one of your children go before
you, you may possibly live to witness the departure of more of us…May we all be
ready! And may we all meet around the throne of God, where there is not
separation for ever and ever! Amen!
I remain your affectionate son,
A.A.
2 Timothy
1.3: “Night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”
Resources
Alexander,
James. The Life of Archibald Alexander,
D.D. Harrisonburg, VA: Sprinkle,
1991.
Questions:
- You are a Rector or Pastor at the bedside of a terminally ill cancer patient. What do you say to them?
- You are a rank-and-file Churchman speaking with a friend. How do you summarize the Gospel?
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